We had never been to Buffalo- and couldn't really think of many good reasons to go except to pass through to Canada or to visit Niagara Falls. Actually, Janet did passed through once on the train and once to visit the Falls Long ago. Jim saw the falls from the Canadian side with his family - also Long ago.
For this trip we drove to Seneca Falls and had lunch and looked around the town. It seemed pleasant enough, but, like much of upstate new, its glory days were probably 75- 100 years ago when NY was a big manufacturing center- like most of New England. There are still some factories around Seneca Falls, but it was mostly a little too peaceful and quiet. We visited the "Women's Hall of Fame" which is housed in an old bank building. We read that Seneca Falls was a fairly liberal or progressive community long ago and sp, it made some sense to put the Hall here. It is not an overly impressive place, but nicely done with all of the American women from long ago that most of us learned about in school being in the Hall of Fame. There are also lots of women who are still alive.
We drove on to Buffalo and found our very nice Hotel near the waterfront. Like Baltimore, it is clear that Buffalo has spent money to rejuvenate its waterfront- in this case on Lake Erie. It was very pleasant - lots of people around enjoying the Summer evening ( we wondered what it is like in January- as most people know- Buffalo can receive BIG loads of snow in winter due to the moisture coming off of the lake.) In any case in August it was very pleasant and we enjoyed a walk around and then dinner at a restaurant near the water that was good, but LOUD. While waiting for our food, Jim installed a sound metering app on his cell phone and we found the noise was around 85dB most of the time but often above 90dB... which is pretty bad.
During the night we were a littlle surprised to hear heavy rain hitting the windows of the hotel- even though no rin was predicted. Back home we had practically no snow in the winter and very little rain in spring or summer so many people are in real danger of not having water for their homes.
The next morning we had a nice breakfast and drove to a used book store that Jim knew about. We spent an hour there and then drove to the Albright- Knox museum which specializes in Art works made since about 1900. It is a very nice museum- Janet Loved it, Jim Liked it. We both recognized many of the paintings by the style and subjects. There were many very nice sculptures too.
We had lunch in the museum cafe and it was quite good as well. We walked around outside bit, but it was hot and humid, so not too much. We went to the airport to pick up a friend who flew in. She was our neighbor in India and she and Janet were going off to "Niagara on the Lake" later for a couple days of plays by George Bernard Shaw and other writers.
We have a very good dinner at "Hutch's" in Buffalo. Janet found it mentioned in a guide book and we were able to get in because it was early on a week night. After the dinner Jim was dropped off at the hotel and Janet and our friend drove on to Niagara.
There was loud music going on by the harbor that night, which was annoying but a couple more heavy rain storms, though brief, did quiet it down some. Jim walked the 3 blocks to the Amtrak station at 6:30 in the morning to catch the train back home. It was in business class so it was comfortable enough for a long train ride through various other NY cities that have seen better days- Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Amsterdam, Albany... Many big brick manufacturing building now looking unused or partially used.
Jim got home to check out our well and find some water on the floor. The plumber came the next day and got everything working again but he sid we have to be careful about using water until we get some good rains. Janet Drove back a couple days later- glad she went to the Shaw festival, but not thrilled by it.
Ziggy and Zoe seem to be doing well, but they are getting older too.
For this trip we drove to Seneca Falls and had lunch and looked around the town. It seemed pleasant enough, but, like much of upstate new, its glory days were probably 75- 100 years ago when NY was a big manufacturing center- like most of New England. There are still some factories around Seneca Falls, but it was mostly a little too peaceful and quiet. We visited the "Women's Hall of Fame" which is housed in an old bank building. We read that Seneca Falls was a fairly liberal or progressive community long ago and sp, it made some sense to put the Hall here. It is not an overly impressive place, but nicely done with all of the American women from long ago that most of us learned about in school being in the Hall of Fame. There are also lots of women who are still alive.
We drove on to Buffalo and found our very nice Hotel near the waterfront. Like Baltimore, it is clear that Buffalo has spent money to rejuvenate its waterfront- in this case on Lake Erie. It was very pleasant - lots of people around enjoying the Summer evening ( we wondered what it is like in January- as most people know- Buffalo can receive BIG loads of snow in winter due to the moisture coming off of the lake.) In any case in August it was very pleasant and we enjoyed a walk around and then dinner at a restaurant near the water that was good, but LOUD. While waiting for our food, Jim installed a sound metering app on his cell phone and we found the noise was around 85dB most of the time but often above 90dB... which is pretty bad.
During the night we were a littlle surprised to hear heavy rain hitting the windows of the hotel- even though no rin was predicted. Back home we had practically no snow in the winter and very little rain in spring or summer so many people are in real danger of not having water for their homes.
The next morning we had a nice breakfast and drove to a used book store that Jim knew about. We spent an hour there and then drove to the Albright- Knox museum which specializes in Art works made since about 1900. It is a very nice museum- Janet Loved it, Jim Liked it. We both recognized many of the paintings by the style and subjects. There were many very nice sculptures too.
We had lunch in the museum cafe and it was quite good as well. We walked around outside bit, but it was hot and humid, so not too much. We went to the airport to pick up a friend who flew in. She was our neighbor in India and she and Janet were going off to "Niagara on the Lake" later for a couple days of plays by George Bernard Shaw and other writers.
We have a very good dinner at "Hutch's" in Buffalo. Janet found it mentioned in a guide book and we were able to get in because it was early on a week night. After the dinner Jim was dropped off at the hotel and Janet and our friend drove on to Niagara.
There was loud music going on by the harbor that night, which was annoying but a couple more heavy rain storms, though brief, did quiet it down some. Jim walked the 3 blocks to the Amtrak station at 6:30 in the morning to catch the train back home. It was in business class so it was comfortable enough for a long train ride through various other NY cities that have seen better days- Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Amsterdam, Albany... Many big brick manufacturing building now looking unused or partially used.
Jim got home to check out our well and find some water on the floor. The plumber came the next day and got everything working again but he sid we have to be careful about using water until we get some good rains. Janet Drove back a couple days later- glad she went to the Shaw festival, but not thrilled by it.
Ziggy and Zoe seem to be doing well, but they are getting older too.
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